During talks in Moscow the top diplomats of both countries discussed struggle against international terrorism in Syria, Iraq and the entire Middle East region

MOSCOW, November 12 /TASS/. The foreign ministers of Russia and South Africa, Sergey Lavrov and Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, have met in Moscow to discuss ways of fighting international terrorism in Syria and Iraq, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

"During the talks the sides had a detailed discussion of how to build up further cooperation between Russia and South Africa in the key areas of strategic partnership, including energy and extraction of mineral resources," the ministry went on to say.

"The ministers held a profound exchange of views on the global and regional agenda, which is of mutual interest to the sides, including struggle against international terrorism in Syria, Iraq and the entire Middle East region as well as the settlement of military and political conflicts in Africa," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The sides noted convergence and closeness of stances on the themes mentioned above. The foreign ministers confirmed their reciprocal determination to deepen the Russian - South African dialogue in the interests of increasing the two countries’ coordination at the United Nations, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa); the G20 and in other multilateral formats," the ministry stressed.